Search location by ZIP code

NEWS ARCHIVE

Tractor-trailer crash, spill closes Route 30

A stretch of Route 30 in Westmoreland County is shut down after an accident that saw a sweet, sticky cherry lime substance leak onto the highway.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 12:50 PM EDT Aug 7, 2013

Tractor-trailer crash, spill closes Route 30

A stretch of Route 30 in Westmoreland County is shut down after an accident that saw a sweet, sticky cherry lime substance leak onto the highway.

Share

Shares

Copy Link

{copyShortcut} to copy
Link copied!

Updated: 12:50 PM EDT Aug 7, 2013

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

WEBVTT TIMOTHY McNERNEY'S ONLINE AT WTAE.COM AND DURING CHANNEL 4 "ACTION NEWS" TONIGHT AT 5:00. PART OF ROUTE 30 IN LIGONIER REMAINS CLOSED THIS NOON AFTER A TRACTOR TRAILER FLIPPED AND CAUGHT FIRE TUESDAY, AND IT CAUSED A SWEET STICKY MESS THAT SMELLED SORT OF LIKE CHERRY AND LIME. CHANNEL 4 "ACTION NEWS" REPORTER AMBER NICOTRA HAS THIS UNUSUAL STORY AND THE DETOUR FOR DRIVERS. Reporter: OVER MY SHOULDER YOU CAN SEE THE SHARP BEND WHERE THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL. CREWS ARE STILL HERE. THEY HAVE BEEN HERE ALL MORNING AND ALL NIGHT. THEY HAVE MADE A LOT OF PROGRESS CLEANING UP THE ROADWAY, BUT THEY ARE FACED SEVERAL CHALLENGES. IT SPILLED ALL OVER ROUTE 30. ROUGHLY 70 BARRELS, EACH WEIGHING 550 POUND AND ALL CONTAINING A SUBSTANCE THAT'S USED AS AN ADDITIVE FOR ENERGY DRINKS. IT'S SUGAR-BASED, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET AS MUCH OF THE PRODUCT OFF THE ROADWAY BECAUSE IF IT'S GOTTEN A LITTLE BIT OF WATER TO IT OR RAIN, IT COULD MAKE THE ROADWAY VERY SLICK AND DANGEROUS. Reporter: USING FORK LIFTS AND HEAVY MACHINE CREWS WORKED SINCE 6:00 MONDAY NEGOTIATE WHEN THE DRIVER OF THIS TRACTOR TRAILER WHO WORKS FOR A COMPANY BASED IN NEW JERSEY LOST CONTROL AT THIS SHARP BEND. HE WAS TRAPPED, AND THE HEAVY BARRELS LAUNCHED HIGH INTO THE AIR. THERE WAS ACTUALLY A CAR EASTBOUND WHERE A BARREL MISSED THE CAR BY LESS THAN A FOOT. SO THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY CATASTROPHIC SITUATION. ONCE THE ROAD IS CLEAR, CREWS WILL PRESSURE WASH THE HIGHWAY SO TO NOT ATTRACT BEARS. ANOTHER CONCERN, MAKING SURE NOTHING POLLUTES NEARBY STREAMS Reporter: WE'RE TRYING NOT TO CAUSE ANY DAMAGE TO THE AQUATIC LIFE IN THE AREA. THIS IS ONE OF THE PRISTINE TROUT STREAMS IN WESTMORELAND COUNTY IN PENNSYLVANIA, SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE MAINTAIN THE INTEGRITY OF THAT STREAM. WE'RE TOLD THAT IT WILL BE UP TO THE COMPANY TO PAY FOR THE CLEAN WHY YOU. THE DRIVER IS STILL IN THE HOSPITAL. WE'RE WORKING TO FIND OUT HIS CONDITION. WE'RE TOLD IT'S ALL STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION, AND RIGHT NOW

Tractor-trailer crash, spill closes Route 30

A stretch of Route 30 in Westmoreland County is shut down after an accident that saw a sweet, sticky cherry lime substance leak onto the highway.